Second batch of Lebanese expatriates return home on Tuesday, with four planes carrying nearly 500 passengers from four corona-hit countries.
So far, a plane carrying Lebanese expatriates from Paris landed in Beirut international Airport. Other three planes carrying Lebanese nationals from Madrid, Istanbul and Kinshasa are to land in the airport later tonight.
Health Minister Hamad Hasan hailed efforts and measures taken at the airport, noting that they mirror the government’s unity.
“The procedures that were implemented on Sunday and re-adopted today showcased complementarity between ministries,” he told reporters as he inspected the airport to oversee the procedures for the arrival of the Lebanese nationals from Paris.
“These procedures are globally applied and they represent a model to follow. Our work mirrors the unity of the government and the effectiveness of its role, in the hopes that we will not register any new infections, and thus keep the number of patients as low as possible during the coming days,” Hasan was quoted as saying by National News Agency (NNA).
The minister noted that unlike other countries, Lebanon carries out PCR testing even on non-symptomatic people.
“Around the world, PCR testing is only carried out when patients are symptomatic. In Lebanon, however, and since we are taking exceptional measures, we are conducting examinations on every returnee.”
Hasan pointed out that returnees who would test positive would be admitted to the Beirut Governmental Hospital, and all passengers would be obligated to self-isolate for 15 days.
Source: Al-Manar English Website and NNA
